Chapter 11
Brett
“You’re working here?” Bailey stammers.
“Well, Zane was mentioning you’re short staffed right now, so I offered to help out. I didn’t know you worked here.”
She nods, a little mechanically. “I’m the stable manager…
and… I guess… uh, everything else in between.
” Is it just me, or do her cheeks seem to dust crimson?
Delicious. I love how this brave, confident woman is stammering because of me.
I’d like to think it’s because of where I had my mouth last night, but that could be wishful thinking.
I run a hand through my beard, trying not to think about how I kept her up all night. Then I glance down at her attire… Daisy Dukes? Holy shit. She has the legs for it. Her build is athletic and she has limbs that seem to go forever. My, my. What I’d give to have them wrapped around my face…
I raise a brow as my eyes finally meet hers again. “I guess we didn’t get a whole lot of time last night to talk about everything.”
Her eyes widen slightly. “Right, like these bags under my eyes.” She points to the non-existent space under those chocolate eyes that capture me. “Someone kept me from my beauty sleep.”
I love how natural she is. Her skin is pretty with no makeup, just a swipe of sheer gloss over her rosy lips. I squint, playing along. “I don’t see anything.”
She narrows her eyes. “So, you know Jed, huh?”
I shrug. “We grew up together in Tennessee. It’s a small world, as they say.”
“How come you didn’t say anything last night?”
“It didn’t come up,” I say. “I was more interested in hearin’ about you talk than me.”
“Huh.”
“What’s, huh?” I smile. “It seems to me you’re not used to a man givin’ you compliments.”
“Well, usually when men give them, they expect something in return.”
“Not me. I don’t expect anythin’.” I step closer and her eyes widen. “But this is gonna be a hoot, you bein’ my boss lady.”
“You can’t work here.”
“Oh?” I grin. “And why not? Are you firin’ me already? Zane said you definitely need the help, so why look a gift horse in the mouth?” Yeah, I think I’m funny. She folds her arms over her chest in that adorable way of hers.
“How long have you been waiting to use that line?”
“A while.”
“Brett, we can’t do this here. It’s… weird.” I take another step, relieved she doesn’t edge back, and I cup the side of her face.
“Do what?”
“Fraternize.”
I burst out laughing. “Fraternize? I haven’t heard that word in… heck, I’ve never heard anyone say that word before.”
“Well, it’s right there in the English dictionary,” she says, a little haughtily. “I’d show you if I had one handy.”
I wave my arms in the air. “That’s okay, sweetheart, I believe you.” I give her a wink for good measure.
“I know you’ve been around horses before, but it’s a little different running a full-time stable.”
“I think I can keep up. Plus, I’m not running it, I’m just assisting.” And boy, don’t I like the sound of that. I raise a brow. “Something tells me you’re not very happy about this. If it makes you uncomfortable, I can leave.” I don’t want to, but I will.
“It’s not that I’m uncomfortable,“ she says hurriedly. “It’s just this is… work.”
Ok, she clearly likes to separate her personal life from work. I of all people get that, more than she probably knows.
“I think I can keep my hands to myself until we clock off. After that? I can’t be so sure.”
Her mouth opens for a fraction of a second. “Very funny.”
I try to dampen down the idea she maybe didn’t want a repeat of last night. And then another thought occurs to me: what if she didn’t enjoy it? I mean, I definitely made her scream more than once, but maybe she was just in the heat of the moment… and now I’m overanalyzing everything.
“I’m honestly not here to interfere. I just want to help.”
The way that she’s so suspicious of me makes me think that she’s been dicked around quite a bit by guys in the past, and that makes me feel bad for her.
Not all guys are jerks, but I understand the vast majority can be.
My sister tells me all the time how difficult it is out in the dating world. Of that I have no doubt.
It only makes me all the more protective of the women in my life. Not saying that Bailey is in my life, but while she is standing in front of me, in the same town, I will always do the right thing.
She sizes me up, and I try as best as I can to keep a straight face. I get it. She doesn’t know me, just as much as I don’t really know her. But I‘d like to get to know her.
“How about you start with shoveling the horse manure?”
I give her a lopsided smile. “Wow, straight into it. Seems I can’t get away from that smell, no matter how far I travel.”
Her lips twitch, then she passes me a shovel. Just like that. “There you go.”
“Would you look at that? You had it all ready to go.”
“Well, I was about to start cleaning, but if you’re as serious as you say you are, then it’s only fair if we have a trial. I’m very particular about the stables and the horses’ needs.”
A trial!
Could she get any more perfect?
“Yes, ma’am, and so you should be. I get this is your livelihood. I know what it’s like to work under pressure when you’re a crew down.” And I just confessed to Jed and her boss that I’m in love with her. Crap.
She gives me a chin lift. “What do you do back home?”
I swallow hard. Again, I don’t want to lie, and I can’t—not to her. “I’m in the music and entertainment industry.” It’s a version of the truth, I guess.
Her eyes widen in that glorious way of hers. “No shit?”
Before she can ask me anything more, I add, “I do all kinds of stuff, from songwriting to recording and management.” It’s not too much of a stretch since I just ditched my current manager, I just left the part about singing out. “A jack of all trades, if you will.”
“I know the feeling, but as you know, work on a farm never ends.”
“Nothin’ like gettin’ up with the sun on a beautiful day.”
“Except I’m normally up when it’s dark,” she says. “Otherwise, I’d never get anything done.”
“Touche.”
I love how smart she is, and hardworking. And the fact that she looks so smoking hot in those daisy dukes with boots… It’s criminal. What’s also criminal is how I can’t touch her.
“So? If you’d really like to help me get a head start, the stables…” She thumbs behind her. “I’ll introduce you to the horses, get you acquainted.”
“Sounds good.”
“How do you feel about saddling up?” she asks.
My heart rate accelerates at the mere mention of it. “I-I think I’d need a little practice. It’s been… a while.”
“No pressure, but I have a trail ride this afternoon. I was gonna tackle it alone because we only had four bookings, but now there’s six. If you wanted to join me, it’s slow paced, fun and you get to see some parts of Alpine Falls the tourist books won’t tell you about.”
“Insider knowledge?” I just can’t help the way she makes me feel. Warm and fuzzy comes to mind. I still have a few reservations about tackling a trail ride, but a bigger part of me wants to do it.
“You bet.”
“I like that.”
“Well, when you’re done cleaning out and we’ve put the horses out to pasture, we can maybe do a few laps of the farm.”
I try not to show how her words make me feel…
anxious, excited, and ready to rumble. It’s taken me up until now to realize just how dumb I’ve been.
Feeling sorry for myself—as if this is some pity party.
Meeting her horses last night made me realize just that, and I’d been shutting out all the good memories I’d had with Clyde over the years.
That part doesn’t sit well with me. I want to remember him fondly, not feel sad every time I think about him, or I scroll through my phone and see his face.
He wouldn’t want that. Maybe getting back in the saddle is exactly what I need.
“That sounds… great,” I say.
She levels me with that famous Bailey stare, one I shouldn’t already know by heart, but somehow I do. “You’re sure? I don’t want to pressure you—”
“I realized a lot of things last night,” I say. “One of them being what a disservice I’ve been doing not ridin’. I need this, Bailey. Thank you for making me realize it.”
“That’s, uh, okay,” she replies, shifting from foot to foot.
Why is she so nervous? Bailey doesn’t strike me as a nervous person, but around me…
I don’t know? Her vulnerability? I’ve never had a woman give me all of her.
Never. Yet, Bailey has been more honest and forthcoming than any of the women I’ve been with.
She doesn’t wear her heart on her sleeve or anything close, but when she does share things with me, it’s from the heart.
Bailey doesn’t say or do things she doesn’t mean. That’s refreshing.
In a world that is full of ‘yes men’ and people who just want a piece of me, her making me shovel shit in the stables today is kinda humbling. I’m all for it. In fact, I’ve never been happier in my life than I have been right now. A warm, familiar feeling rushes through me.
It feels like home.
It shouldn’t, but it does.
I can’t shake it. The familiarness of being outdoors again, in the thick of it, getting dirty and doing a good, honest day’s work. It didn’t kill anyone, and it won’t kill me.
“Where would you like me to start?” I ask.
She points over to the far stall. “You can start with the big fella, Zeus.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I’ll be right over here if you need anything.”
I tip my hat, trying my best not to do a look back as she walks off to the other side of the barn.
Jed is right. Maybe I am in love. This woman has encapsulated my heart and turned it upside down in the space of a few short hours. I’ve barely known her a day, and this isn’t like me.
I smile, headed toward Zeus’s stall.
Already, this is the best day ever.
Brianna
What do you mean, you’re saddling up?
Me
You heard correctly, Bri. I’m going for a trail ride
Brianna
Where is my brother, and what did you do to him?
Me
Ha-ha
Brianna
Sounds like this place is rubbing off on you
Me
It’s peaceful
Brianna
When are you coming home?
Me
I don’t know
Me
How are Mom and Dad?
Brianna
You could text them a bit more often. They’re worried sick
Me
I will. They know not to worry. I’m fine
Brianna
Things won’t get better until you face the music
I know she’s right, but right now I like the bubble I’m living in. I don’t want to burst it too soon.
Me
I know that. Just give me some time
Brianna
We’re all worried about you. Nobody even cares about what happened
Me
I care
Brianna
I know. You took it hard, and you have every right to enjoy some peace. Just don’t stay away too long, we miss you
Me
Bossy britches
Brianna
Love you, bro
Me
Love you too, now go away, I’ve got shit to do
I slide my phone away and grab what I need to saddle up. I take a breath, heading toward Bailey, where she waits with Pepper and Spirit. My palms sweating, I put one foot in front of the other. I can do this. It’s just like riding a bike…